Senator Bond

31^st Senate District

Senator Bond’s Senate Bill 3699, creates the Community College Transfer Grant Program. This program will provide grants of up to $2,000 per year to eligible students who elect to pursue a baccalaureate degree at a public or private university after completing their associate’s degree at a state community college.  The bill is based on a current program in Virginia which provides similar grants to in-state residents who complete their degree at a public two-year institution and then enroll in a four-year institution.  This bill has been sent to the Governor.

House Bill 5124 creates a streamlined auditing and accreditation system for all state human services agencies. Agencies included under this legislation are the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.  The new system is intended to address potential inefficiencies or redundancies in the oversight of service providers, auditing procedures, licensing and training requirements.  The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.

Senator Clayborne

57^th Senate District

Since 2001, taxpayers have been allowed to deduct an income tax credit of 50 percent of donations made to affordable housing projects under the Illinois Housing Development Act. The current tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2011. Senator Clayborne’s House Bill 6038 extends the sunset date on the tax credits until 2016.

Senator Clayborne also passed Senate Bill 3547 which adds electronic textbooks and the technological equipment necessary to support their use to the list of acceptable items for funding under the ADA Block Grant and Textbook Loan Program. The bill also stipulates that funding may only be used for instructional materials in an electronic format or hard-bound format if the district ensures each student will be provided with a copy at school and at home and it is economically feasible to purchase the electronic textbook. Electronic textbooks will reduce costs for school districts and allow them to access the most up-to-date information available.

Senator Collins

16^th Senate District

The Chairwoman of the Financial Institutions Committee passed House Bill 5735 out of the Senate this week to provide homeowners an opportunity to modify their mortgages to save their homes. The measure would allow judges to set aside a foreclosure sale if a home is sold in violation of the Making Homes Affordable program while the homeowner is trying to save their home.

Read more: Majority Briefing - 04-29-10

Senator John Sullivan talks about the surprise acknowledgement he received from President Barack Obama during his visit to Quincy, IL.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Senate passed a measure today aimed at increasing voter turnout. Senate Bill 2925, sponsored by State Senator Michael Frerichs (D – Champaign), requires election authorities to conduct grace period registration, grace period voting, and early voting at state public universities, colleges, and community colleges.

"This legislation will provide polling locations on campuses and increase voter turnout," Frerichs said. "Currently, there is no polling place at the University of Illinois for grace period voting, which creates barriers for students wishing to vote but are unable because of lack of timely transportation or busy schedules."